India can fight terrorism on its own, says Sinha

By Our Special Correspondent

NELLORE, OCT. 10. The Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, has asserted that India is capable of fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir on its own and so is determined to protect every inch of its territory without seeking the help of any other country.

Addressing a district-level BJP workers meeting held here today, Mr. Sinha sought to counter the propaganda that Pakistan got a better deal than India in the international developments that followed the attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11. He said that India was not competing with Pakistan to win the favour of any country.

He pointed out that there was a world of difference between India and Pakistan. The economy of Pakistan was in a mess. While India was comfortable with its foreign exchange reserves amounting to $45 billion, Pakistan had hardly $1 billion dollars. Pakistan was ready to prostrate before any nation that offered an assistance of one billion or million dollars to it. There was no such need for India. India had not approached the World Bank or IMF to meet any crisis situation. It had, instead, appealed for the help of NRIs who responded to the best of their ability, he added.

He said the foreign policy of the NDA Government yielded excellent results. There were many sceptics who believed that India could not face the sanctions in the wake of its nuclear tests. While the then Pakistan President, Mr. Nawaz Sharief, ``ran'' to the U.S. to explain his country's nuclear explosions, Mr. Vajpayee stood his ground. He asked the world leaders to come here if they wanted to know our stand. Ultimately, it was the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, who had to come to Delhi to share our concerns. The NDA Government was proved right because the sanctions hurt the U.S. more than India and the U.S. had to lift the sanctions in its own interest, he pointed out.

Mr. Sinha said that the world was looking to India and taking its advice in its fight against terrorism. India has won its place among the comity of nations thanks to the able leadership of Mr. Vajpayee, he said. ``Not long ago, the Indian Prime Minister had to go to America and wait for days for an audience with the U.S. President for an hour. Today, our Foreign Minister goes there for talks with his counterpart but is granted an audience with the U.S. President'', he observed. He exhorted the BJP workers to enlighten the people about the achievements of the NDA Government in its foreign policy.

Earlier, speaking to newspersons, Mr. Sinha said that the country is experiencing the impact of the attack on the World Trade Center and its fallout. Exports have declined, tourism has been affected, stock markets reacted with panic as usual, exchange value came under pressure, aviation and insurance sectors too suffered. Oil prices have actually declined even though there was a fear that they might go up. Foreign direct investment may be affected.

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